Improvement in gawie apparatus



i B. B. TOWNSEND.

GAME-APPARATUS. No.182 ,616. Patented Sept'.26,1876.

N. PETERS, PHOTD-LITMGGRAPHER. WASHKNGTGN D C,

* ENI Erich.

BENJAMIN B. TOWNSEND,.OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 182,616, dated September 26, 1876; application tiled August 16,1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN B. TowNs- END, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful apparatus for indoor playing of the game of base, or base-ball, as generally termed; and do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification, and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure l is a perspective view of such apparatus. Fig. 2 is a View of one of the folding cells as open; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of it, taken through its pockets. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the pendulous needle and its carrier.

In such drawings, A represents a floor or the top of a table, provided with a standard, B, or some other device for supporting a pendulous rod, chain, or carrier, 0, having a needle, D, extending from it at its lower part. E is a bat, pivoted to a standard, F, and provided with two working-lines, G H, fixed to and arranged with it, as represented. I I I are a series of cells, each being wedge shaped and open at its larger end.

The needle D is connected with the carrier 0 by a flexile connection or loop, a, of leather or other suitable material, interposed between and secured to the two, as shown.

Each case I usually compose of two square plates, 12 c, and four triangular side pieces, (1 d e e, formed and arranged as shown. The two plates are hinged together at their next adjacent edges, and there is hinged to each of the plates a pair of the side pieces. The larger side pieces d d I form with pockets f f, to receive the smaller side pieces e c, in order that the whole may bearranged soas to form a wedge-shaped box or cell. For convenience of packing the whole in a smaller compass, the side pieces may be turned or moved down upon the plates, and these latter maybe folded one upon the other.

Having thus described the apparatus, I will now proceed to explain the mode of using it for the playing of what may be termed the game of table base-ball, which represents in several particulars the outdoor game of base.

A small ball, K, is used, it being supported by the needle, which is to be forced into it a short distance. When struck by the bat, the ball will be readily driven off and escape from the needle. The standard F I usually have revolve with the bat and on the same post therewith, although such is not essential, such post and standard being extended upward from a platform, L, which may be provided with pointed feet or spurs to hold it in place on the table or floor. The flexile connection a is to render the needle sensitive to a blow on the ball or capable of turning upto admit of discharge from it of the ball when struck by the bat. The carrier may be suspended from the ceiling of the room or from a gasburner or chandelier or other object. The wedge-shaped cells I usually make of pasteboard, though they may be constructed of metal plate or wood. Nine of them are generally used for the game, they being designed to represent the base-ball fielders.

In playing the said game, the bat is to be placed at or near one of the angles of a square, arranged and chalked or marked upon the floor or table, as shown at M. Each side of the square should be about four times the length of the bat, and the square should be so disposed that the ball may be swung in a vertical plane passing through a diagonal of the said square. One of the two or more players takes hold of one of the Working-lines with his right hand and the other with his left hand. One of these lines may be termed the positive, and the other the negative, line. Such player having drawn the bat back, an-

other of the players next swings the ball toward the bat. The first player, watching his opportunity, pulls one of the lines so as to suddenly drive the bat toward the ball in a manner to strike it and force it ot? the needle and drive it forward. Should the ball be driven into either of the cells, suitably arranged-that is, as players are in playing the game of base-it' will be caught therein, in which case an out will be declared against the batter. But should the hall not enter a cell, the batter Will be entitled to one point in the game, four such points constituting a run. The person who may obtain the greatest number of runs in nine innings wins the game. The rules concerning runs, fouls,

two-base hits, and other matters pertaining to the game, may be such as in the ordinary game of base or base-ball.

I claim as my invention as follows 2 1. The combination of the pendulous-needle carrier with the bat pivoted to a stand and provided with one or more working-lines, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the pendulous-needle carrier and needle with the bat pivoted to a stand and provided with one or more workinglines, all being substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of one or more cells, substantially as described, with the pendulousneedle carrier, and the pivoted bat, provided with one or more working-lines, as explained.

4. The pendulous needle, connected with its carrier by a joint or flexile connection, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The folding cell, composed of the plates 1) 0, and the pocketed and plain side pieces d d e e, constructed and applied substantially as set.forth.

BENJAMIN B. TOWNSEND.

Witnesses:

R. H.'EDDY,' J. R. SNOW. 

